Miguel Andujar has been among the bright spots in a trying year for the Padres’ bats.

But he has cooled as of late and so he’s down to sixth in the batting order to start a three-game series in Washington.

Friday’s first pitch is at 3:45 p.m. on Padres.TV.

New series on deck. pic.twitter.com/6td6nJRCkS

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 29, 2026

Andujar remains among the Padres’ most productive bats with a .753 OPS. In fact, the only Padres better than Andujar are Gavin Sheets (.817) and Ty France (.808) — both in Friday’s lineup — but Andujar is hitting .111/.143/.148 over his last seven games.

Andujar had been in the two-hole for nine of the last 10 games and was the five-hole hitter on Tuesday.

With Andujar down in the order, the Padres will give Xander Bogaerts (.681 OPS) his third start in the three-hole, between Sheets and Manny Machado (.604 OPS).

Fernando Tatis Jr. (.639 OPS) is riding an 11-game on-base streak as he leads off and plays second base in an 11th straight game (.350/.447/.375).

Center fielder Jackson Merrill (.589 OPS) will bat fifth and right fielder Ramón Laureano (.678 OPS) will bat seventh, followed by France and catcher Freddy Fermin (.424 OPS).

The Padres have lost four in a row.

Here is how the Nationals (29-28, 3rd in NL East) will line up for Game 1:

tonight’s menu 🍽️https://t.co/iUBDqlACVs | @fox5dc pic.twitter.com/5wL5SwK9ke

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 29, 2026

 

Friday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Lucas Giolito (2-0, 2.70 ERA)

The former National has faced his former team just once since he was traded in a package for OF Adam Eaton as he struck out seven over 7 ⅔ innings of one-run ball in a win last year. Giolito has walked eight against five walks through his first two starts (10 IP). He threw 86 pitches in his last start, his most in six appearances between the minors and majors since signing with the Padres in April.

Here is how Giolito has fared against current Nationals:

Nationals RHP Paxton Schultz (0-2, 5.30 ERA)

He has been announced as an opener, a first for the 28-year-old. He last appeared in a game on May 22 (⅔ IP, 0 ER) and has topped out at three innings so far in the majors. LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 2.84 ERA) had been listed as the starter and could pitch in bulk relief. Alvarez had a 5.29 ERA in seven starts this year at Triple-A Rochester. He’s only pitched in relief in the majors so far this year, topping out at 4⅓ shutout innings in his season debut on April 19. He last pitched on Sunday, throwing 1⅓ scoreless innings.

Only France (0-for-2, K) and Nick Castellanos (0-for-1) have history with Schultz, while no one on the roster has faced Alvarez in the majors.